Indigenous peoples living in the most bio diverse and fragile ecosystems
of the planet are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to
both their direct reliance on local, natural systems for their well-being and
their disadvantaged socioeconomic standing caused by historical, and often
ongoing, political and social processes of discrimination.
Although it is recognized that indigenous peoples are vulnerable to climate
change, and are currently facing the most severe impacts, including relocation
of entire communities, current mitigation and adaptation measures do not
address the local realities of their bio cultural systems.
Likewise, indigenous knowledge and cultural practice is recognized as important
for the conservation of biodiversity (Article 8j of the Convention on
Biological Diversity) and more specifically as valuable in contributing to the
understanding and evaluation of impacts and adaptation options of climate
change (COP 9 Decision IX/13).
Yet, frameworks for assessing the impact of climate change on communities and
building adaptation strategies do not recognize indigenous worldviews and
practice. The IPCCA has emerged out of the participation of indigenous
organisations and leaders in key international processes related to climate
change and indigenous peoples such as the UNFCCC and the CBD. Their response to
the need to develop alternative, indigenous approaches that consider local
perspectives and bio cultural realities has led to the IPCCA.